Location: NAMI KERN COUNTY, BAKERSFIELD, CA 93561

I will be walking to raise funds for NAMI on Oct. 11

I have been involved with NAMI of Kern & Tehachapi ever since my son Joseph Fincher started showing signs of mental illness. I can state with all honesty that NAMI saved my son by teaching him coping skills and getting him to the resources to help him medically and financially through the difficult years. NAMI taught my husband and myself how to cope as well and more importantly to understand the illness and what Joe was dealing with day to day.

I cannot say enough about this organization. They have created a wonderful service to the community of parents, sons & daughters trying to help a loved one who suffers from mental illness. If you or anyone you know would like to sponsor me for NAMI WALKS I will send the information to you.

Joe is now deceased but I cannot walk away from the organization that has done so much for us.

My hubby & I went on a day trip to check out Randsburg & Red Mountain this last Saturday. First stop was the family land.

The 3 original houses of prostitution in Red Mountain were bought by my Grandfather Willie Gillard back in the 60's. My dad inherited them and for a while my sister lived in one of them. I have fond memories of weekends scrounging with my siblings for Tortoise's, horney toads, artifacts & rocks. We would hike all the way around the Red Mountain and find all sorts of stuff. There was some sort of military fence on the back side of the mountain.

The "shacks" as we called them burned down but I still wanted to grab some wood, tiles and whatever was left  for whatever reason  I have yet to figure out. I almost stepped on a sidewinder that my Hubby thought was a rubber snake I had put there to trick him. It was beautiful and we thought it was dead so we went right up to it and took pictures. It vanished when we stepped away. CLOSE CALL.

Randsburg was the next stop. Olga-aged 96 who still runs The Joint was sitting at her stool and we talked a bit about Tom & Faith the two infamous past owners of the Silver Dollar in Red Mountain. All I can say about them is ex stripper and exhibitionist!

Hamburgers and excellent fries across the way at the White Horse and Ice cream at The General Store were on my list of to-do's. Antiquing and people watching are all good past times.

Check it out for a different kind of day trip and have a cold one at Olga's Joint!

 

Bullies in the work place. We have all encountered someone in our lives who is a Bully. I was watching a show this morning on Bullies and it gave tips on how to deal with one of these creatures. What I do know is this-DOCUMENT THE BULLYING! I have a cousin who has been bullied at work and has not had a reprieve from the two bullies for years. She frustrates me because she is so beaten down she wont fight back. She went to HR but I am sure hadn't written all the facts down. By documenting you have proof by dates, time, witnesses etc.

I have been treated in a dismissive way at one time and that is a form of bullying. I wound up being promoted to supervisor of these mean ladies and that was sweet enough revenge for me. When you stand up to the bully they usually back down. Try it in a civil manner and you will be surprised at how effective it can be.

No one should ever have to tolerate a Bully.

So who watched the Puppy Bowl IV? My favorite was the white Westie. He hoarded the toys at an end zone. The Corgie was my second favorite.

It played all day on The Animal Planet. I prefer it to the Super Bowl but I heard this years game was great (according to fellow bloggers).

 

 

 

 

This was so funny and silly. You might have to have a weird sense of humor to appreciate though!

This weather is perfect reading weather. I just finished "The Road". I really enjoyed it. I don't have anymore books that interest me enough to pick up. Maybe I will rent Brokeback Mountain tonight. I have been a shameless fan of "The Real Housewives of Orange County". The finale was last night. I can't wait for "Madmen" and "The Riches" to come back on TV.
Does anyone have a good book to suggest? No Nora Roberts or Crime mysteries. They bore me. Just a really well written book. Margeret Atwood is a favorite of mine but she hasn't got a book out I haven't read. Suggestions????

I am so depressed today. I want to run away from I don't know what. Is it just me? I've been having some thoughts on different stuff. Who will the running mates be? Do we have such poor choices for President because no one significant (I don't have any idea on who that would be),  wants the job in this time of war and recession? My dad who I respect immensely says he is voting for Edwards. Now I am thinking of switching to him just because of my dads uncanny ability to read people. My husband got laid off etc. I just want to run away. I am blue.

My house was burglarized June 2006. The local meth lowlife stole every piece of jewelry regardless of value from me. I went to our local pawn shop last week and staring at me were two of my rings. Guess what- I called the police and a sheriff met me at our local pawn shop and yes the first thing our local pawn shop owner says when he pulls the pawn slip is"this woman who brought these in is a real lowlife". Well I was told by this sheriff that I had to BUY my own STOLEN rings back at our local pawn shops asking price! Well of course I paid but I am so angry . Does this sound like a fair deal to any of you? Have you heard of this? So I guess if they find known stolen merchandise at the pawn shop the victum of the crime will have to buy back their stuff. The sheriff said sad but true.

Do you think you

have Mental Illness

in your family?

Announcing a free 12 week class for

family and friends of people with

severe mental illness:

Schizophrenia              Borderline Personality Disorder

Bi-Polar Disorder        ; Major Depression      

Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

Panic Disorder

---------------------------------------

Family-to-Family is structured to help family members understand & support their loved ones while maintaining their own well-being. It will change your life.

The class covers the different illnesses, medications, communications skills, advocacy & self-help.

Meet other family members learning to cope.

Call Now for Details:  859-1612 or 364-6134 Class starts Thur. Jan. 10, 2008

Para clases en español, llamar 852-1129

 

6:30 – 9:00 PM

SPONSORED BY:

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), NAMI California   

Kern County Mental Health System of Care

Eli Lilly and Company

I had this great idea for a Bosses gift-A basket filled with different Tehachapi labeled foods, drink and what ever I could find. Good and bad idea.
First stop Edelweiss Deli, no authentic Tehachapi made food here but friendly service and a wonderful new sugary sauce (white/milk chocolate) that is Delicious made it a worthwhile stop. Next stop-Book N Crannies. Lots of stuff, calender, coffee, mugs etc and again friendly great service. Then things took a turn for the worse.
OK, so I have heard all these rave reviews regarding Mama Hillybeans so we go there for lunch. Half hour later, sitting just watching in amazement that Pat hasn't lost it and chewed anyone out for not acknowledging him. He is sitting on a stool watching the waitress? try to figure out the credit card machine and walk here and there doing NOTHING! The dread-lock lady in back is stressed out with this waitress but does nothing but go back to prepare someones lunch?? Anyway after someone else walks in and the waitress asks what they would like, my hubby stops her and says he has been waiting for her to help him. What does she think he was doing on that stool? A mix up where instead of one chili bowl the dread-lock lady brings out two orders, we tell her we ordered one Lox N Bagel (skimpy) and one chili,(good) she stomps away with BOTH chili's. I had to smile it was so unbelievably rude of her. Kids crying, screaming, making kid noises added to the stress in the air. Dreadlocks finally bring my chili back and says , yes you ordered one! UGHHHHH. Tehachapi Art Center looks promising, so what that I am followed around the small area like a shoplifter. I figure- they must have frequent shoplifters visiting them!!!.  Not being put off by this , we buy some artsy stuff. Check them out. You might feel hawk eyed but they are our local artists.
Stressed out myself by now we head for The Appleshed. I ask the lady if there is a zinfandel made by Tehachapi Cattle Co. She says no only what I see is what they make. Hmmmm.  Tanglewood farms seems like a good idea. We walk into the first store where the little heater is making scary noises. Pat shuts it off and we walk over to the other store where we are barely acknowledged. The lady here is too busy talking to her friends. Pat tells her he shut the heater off for the before mentioned reasons and she seriously barely looks at him to thank him and goes back to her chatter. No thank you I think and we leave empty handed. Next stop-Albertsons-There is the Zin, right as I walk in. Busy but always nice cashiers. Final stop, Norbatine Sisters up Water Cyn. Beautiful snowy drive. Sisters there have wonderful jams, biscotti. All made by the sisters. Prayer cards and all kinds of religious odds n ends. They are soft spoken and very friendly as I have found out from my last visit up there.
Home sweet home at last in Alpine Forest. Snow is still thick and my lab & Shepherd are in the yard to greet us. I am tired out from all this. I think I will have a glass of wine, dip some vanilla wafers in the great chocolate sauce and relax by the fire.